24601NoMore
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
- Joined
- Dec 8, 2015
- Messages
- 1,166
Hey gang..wonder if anyone else is having a similar issue to what I'm currently struggling with..
FI and working in a job that's absolutely impossible (for a variety of reasons I won't bore you all with). Every day is a challenge and the stress is off the map. I've worked on my ER plan for a LONG time now, and financially CAN (and "should") put in my notice, but I'm having a very hard time even thinking about doing so.
A few reasons why:
- Fear - I went through my first lay-off in 2008 at the heart of the economic meltdown. Was the worst days of my life, bar none. I for the most part completely freaked out about not having a job or the income that goes alone with it. To VOLUNTARILY put myself right back in that situation is..terrifying, although a lot has changed since then including building up an ER income stream that will pay most of our bills until we get to SS.
- Fear part 2..no idea what the cuts to SS, Medicare or ACA subsidies may be..also worried about the longevity of the Bull and a likely Bear/sequence of returns risk right as I jump off the ship 10 years before SS/Medicare. We CAN make it even with cuts..but it's still much more unknown than it was in our parent's generation.
- Upbringing - no other way to say it..upbringing was not prosperous (OK, we were pretty much not even middle class). My dad was an electrician that was frequently on and off work or between jobs..mom worked to take care of the kids. We literally did not have a spare $1 to our name. (One time we wanted to do an event that literally cost one dollar..Mom said we couldn't because we "did not have the $1 extra to spare"). So, I worked my tail off..put myself through college (a 10 year 4-year degree since I had to work to pay my own way)..and now am in a much better place and have achieved FI in my mid 50s. To that point..
- Golden Handcuffs - sitting on significant $$s in unvested RSUs..every quarter is another pretty large chunk of extra $$S. Hard to walk away from that on top of professional-level compensation which makes for a very nice W-2. Especially after growing up with not even $1 extra to my name.
On the flip side, the money is not even worth it. I could (and should) pull the plug tomorrow. Next vest is mid August. After that, my plan has been to give notice..but I JUST. CAN'T. FATHOM. doing so. (And, funny enough - I'm on the "OMQ" [One More Quarter] plan at this point to get the next big chunk of extra $$. Seems to keep moving out another quarter every time I think I've done the last one for some reason. Go figure).
I have all sorts of interests and things I know I can spend my time on. My DW says that it's a testament to a lot of hard work that we CAN RE. It'd be great..we could do whatever we want..whenever we want..leave all the BS (which is immeasurable) behind..
So, why in the heck is this so hard? I can't even fathom pulling the ripcord even though the work situation is totally impossible to the point it's unhealthy.
Thanks for listening and for any/all advice..
FI and working in a job that's absolutely impossible (for a variety of reasons I won't bore you all with). Every day is a challenge and the stress is off the map. I've worked on my ER plan for a LONG time now, and financially CAN (and "should") put in my notice, but I'm having a very hard time even thinking about doing so.
A few reasons why:
- Fear - I went through my first lay-off in 2008 at the heart of the economic meltdown. Was the worst days of my life, bar none. I for the most part completely freaked out about not having a job or the income that goes alone with it. To VOLUNTARILY put myself right back in that situation is..terrifying, although a lot has changed since then including building up an ER income stream that will pay most of our bills until we get to SS.
- Fear part 2..no idea what the cuts to SS, Medicare or ACA subsidies may be..also worried about the longevity of the Bull and a likely Bear/sequence of returns risk right as I jump off the ship 10 years before SS/Medicare. We CAN make it even with cuts..but it's still much more unknown than it was in our parent's generation.
- Upbringing - no other way to say it..upbringing was not prosperous (OK, we were pretty much not even middle class). My dad was an electrician that was frequently on and off work or between jobs..mom worked to take care of the kids. We literally did not have a spare $1 to our name. (One time we wanted to do an event that literally cost one dollar..Mom said we couldn't because we "did not have the $1 extra to spare"). So, I worked my tail off..put myself through college (a 10 year 4-year degree since I had to work to pay my own way)..and now am in a much better place and have achieved FI in my mid 50s. To that point..
- Golden Handcuffs - sitting on significant $$s in unvested RSUs..every quarter is another pretty large chunk of extra $$S. Hard to walk away from that on top of professional-level compensation which makes for a very nice W-2. Especially after growing up with not even $1 extra to my name.
On the flip side, the money is not even worth it. I could (and should) pull the plug tomorrow. Next vest is mid August. After that, my plan has been to give notice..but I JUST. CAN'T. FATHOM. doing so. (And, funny enough - I'm on the "OMQ" [One More Quarter] plan at this point to get the next big chunk of extra $$. Seems to keep moving out another quarter every time I think I've done the last one for some reason. Go figure).
I have all sorts of interests and things I know I can spend my time on. My DW says that it's a testament to a lot of hard work that we CAN RE. It'd be great..we could do whatever we want..whenever we want..leave all the BS (which is immeasurable) behind..
So, why in the heck is this so hard? I can't even fathom pulling the ripcord even though the work situation is totally impossible to the point it's unhealthy.
Thanks for listening and for any/all advice..
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